FAQ: How do I label Added Sugars on products classified as Added Sugar?

Added Sugars is a required label nutrient in the 2016 food labeling regulations and, as such, manufacturers have questions about compliance. This blog talks about what to do when your entire product is an “Added Sugar” as defined by the FDA.

Question: How do I label Added Sugars and Total Sugars if the single-ingredient product I’m selling (maple syrup) is considered by the FDA to be an added sugar?

Answer: With the passage of the 2019 Farm Bill, FDA’s final ruling on single-ingredient products and Added Sugars declaration reads:

The food labeling requirements under section 403(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(q)) shall not require that the nutrition facts label of any single-ingredient sugar, honey, agave, or syrup, including maple syrup, that is packaged and offered for sale as a single-ingredient food bear the declaration “Includes X g Added Sugars.”

So, the value for Total Sugars would display the total amount of sugar and there would be no “Includes X Added Sugars” line at all. Please note that this is only for single-ingredient sugar products. Nutrition facts for all other products must still display the Added Sugars line and declaration, even if the amount is 0 (zero).

The FDA defines Added Sugars as: Sugars that are either added during the processing of foods or packaged as such and includes sugars (free, mono- and disaccharides), sugars from syrups, and sugars concentrated from fruit or vegetable juices that are in excess of what would be expected from the same volume of 100% fruit or vegetable juice of the same type.

If used towards the total juice percentage label declaration (§101.30)

If used for Brix standardization under §102.33(g)(2)

If used to formulate the fruit component of jellies, jams, or preserves (§§150.140 and 150.160) or as the fruit component of fruit spreads

Please note: In Genesis R&D, “Total Sugars” and “Added Sugars” are separate data fields. Be sure that both fields are populated for your ingredient so that the correct information is reported on your label.